Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: The Evil Transcendent in the Resonance World
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The Evil Transcendent had appeared in the Resonance World.
As a result, Leyzon and his group decided to change their plans and stay longer in Sahā Village.
When Leyzon expressed his apologies to Hanok, Hanok waved it off.
"I-It's fine. I needed more time to mentally prepare to meet my brother anyway!"
Hanok must have felt some regret too, but he didn't prioritize his personal matters.
"I'm Leyzon's warrior. Protecting Leyzon's path has become my goal and dream."
It had almost been a full year since Hanok and Leyzon had built their bond.
Through that time, Hanok had come to truly trust and follow Leyzon.
Leyzon clenched his fists tightly as he watched Hanok's shy smile.
"Hanok, soon I'll get you a massive haul of Ascension EXP items."
"Ah, y-yes! Thank you."
He's grown up well. Good job, my Hanok.
Thanks to Hanok understanding without throwing a tantrum, they now had some extra time.
While waiting for Harban to bring back information, Leyzon refined his plans on his own.
Pirsin and the lizard are probably wandering the Spirit World.
The Spirit World was a realm Leyzon couldn't interfere with.
That thought brought the ghost bride back to mind.
Leyzon slapped his cheeks to pull himself together.
Instead, a smile crept across his lips.
No need to feel shortchanged. What I have is plenty.
Especially if his judgment was correct.
"Abyss!"
Hurban had clearly gotten the information quickly.
Leyzon set down his pen as Harban burst in.
"You found Jayperfin."
The Gray Mage Tower spirit and former research director.
Hurban must have located her.
"Yes, she wasn't far away—no, not far at all!"
His words flipped, probably due to the effects of his low intelligence.
Leyzon was used to it.
"Location."
"Solbram Barony, the city below the capital."
Not too far.
So Leyzon gave Harban his orders right away.
"Got it. Then blow the whole place where that woman is to kingdom come."
"Yes, underst—wait, what?"
Shocking words had popped out of Leyzon's mouth.
Hurban hadn't expected it and asked again.
His face said he'd heard right.
Leyzon grinned.
"You heard correctly. Jayperfin—that woman's the traitor."
Hurban's face went slack with shock.
The Butterfly Mask had built up a decent amount of trust in the Resonance World.
For her to be branded a traitor overnight like this.
It was bewildering even for Harban.
But Leyzon's eyes held firm conviction.
"Really?! But the Skull Hand clearly..."
"That actually gave her more leeway."
Leyzon wouldn't have been so sure if he hadn't heard about the traitor from the Poison Spider.
Jayperfin overlapped with the traitor in too many ways.
Same Spirit Necromancer lineage.
Contractor of the Evil Transcendent.
First witness to the lizard.
This could pass as coincidence.
But the final piece of info changed Leyzon's mind.
"The Butterfly Mask I know wouldn't leak info that reveals her position to others."
She was an expert at handling information.
Because she was the first necromancer to dig up intel on the Blue Sparrow Knights.
At first, Leyzon thought she just had good sources, but now he saw otherwise.
She knew it from the start.
The traitor was in league with the Imperial Family.
She must have gotten that info through them.
And casually passed it to Leyzon.
"And now, in just a few days, you've found her based on a single name. Think that's coincidence?"
Not that he was downplaying Harban's network.
But locating someone whose survival was even in question, just from a name.
The pieces fit too perfectly.
In other words.
Butterfly Mask—Jayperfin had deliberately exposed her info.
She'd flaunted being a Spirit Necromancer.
To lure Leyzon into the real world.
A trap she'd set ever since the Resonance World destruction.
A trap designed to catch the Abyss.
"Y-Yes! Thinking back, there are way too many suspicious things!"
Hurban nodded vigorously, unable to hold back his admiration.
He was the type to agree with anything the Abyss said.
Leyzon turned to Daset, leaving Harban behind.
Daset had been assigned to assist him while he stayed.
"Daset, what's your take?"
He was a pro at intrigue.
When Leyzon asked his opinion, Daset nodded too.
"Yes, combining the details, it's a valid suspicion. I wouldn't go there either."
"Thanks for the input."
Leaders had to assert their own views.
But hearing from subordinates was just as key.
Leyzon followed through and reached his conclusion.
"Uh, Abyss, mind if I ask one thing?"
"You're wondering how she hid the truth."
Jayperfin had been upfront about herself.
The millennium mage's Bone Hand had even vouched for her truthfulness.
"Yes, what she said wasn't a lie, right?"
"Correct. That much was true."
Going over her info confirmed it.
Jayperfin was human, not a dark elf.
That alone pointed away from her being the traitor.
"But overlaying a soul on one's body isn't hard for a Spirit Necromancer."
Hurban's eyes slowly widened.
"No way, Jayperfin is..."
"Already dead. Her soul's probably bound to the traitor instead."
Without even knowing she was dead, she'd acted as a puppet in the Resonance World.
Leyzon wouldn't have guessed it normally.
But he'd tested the Bone Hand himself.
Through various checks on whether it treated swapped-soul words as truth, he'd pieced it together.
Leading to the conclusion that Jayperfin was the traitor.
"Heh heh heh haw! I had no idea! Without you, Abyss, I'd have fallen for it! As expected of the Abyss!"
Hurban clapped wildly in praise.
"Of course."
Syria, sitting beside Leyzon, puffed up proudly for no reason.
"Syria, you didn't do anything."
Eden poked at her, and Syria cupped her chin smugly.
"I sent Leyzon support and love. How could I, Syria, not help?!"
Syria turned to Leyzon with a "right?" look.
She was so cute he just agreed.
As Syria puffed her chest out again, Eden looked exasperated.
"Leyzon, you're spoiling Syria too much."
Couldn't be helped.
No parent stays strong in front of their kid.
Leyzon cleared his throat awkwardly and turned to the eager Harban.
"So we're blowing up the place where Jayperfin supposedly is. I'd love to go myself, but..."
"No need! The Abyss shouldn't take risks!"
Hurban thumped his chest, begging to handle it.
"Hurban, don't charge in head-on. The enemy's got the Imperial Family using necromancers as slaves."
"I'll be extra careful, just as you're worried."
Unsettling, but he'd get it done.
Leyzon decided to trust Harban.
That said, this throws off finding Blue Sparrow Knights intel.
His info source, Jayperfin, turned out to be the traitor.
Couldn't get much worse.
And searching for Pirsin, the lizard, and Tessa too.
Everything was stalled.
Leyzon rubbed his chin briefly.
Then one person came to mind.
A Spirit Necromancer like Jayperfin.
"Where was that again."
Leyzon rummaged through his bag.
After digging for a while, he pulled out a sheet of blue stationery.
A telegraph letter.
Write it, and it records on the recipient's copy, no matter the distance.
Leyzon took out the telegraph and began writing.
The message read:
〔Come to Sahā Village to resolve Resonance World matters.〕
Leyzon folded the letter neatly into the stationery.
It'd reach fine; he'd come soon.
"Shall we have some tea?"
Leyzon gazed at the letter excitedly, waiting for the response.
A week in Sahā Village.
Leyzon spent the time helping Rafila with reports and village work.
He directed Pauli on buildings to construct, laying foundations for the nation-building ending.
Time flew by before he knew it.
In the meantime, he sent Hanok to clear a nearby dungeon with Daset.
Only Leyzon needed to wait for the letter reply.
He was buzzing with anticipation when it finally came.
"Leyzon."
Syria, who'd planted bats and rats all over Sahā Village, called out.
Leyzon shot up from his bed.
"The reply's here."
Man, making me wait like this.
Leyzon grinned ear to ear and opened the door.
He headed down the hall to the Steel Wolf Guild counter on the first floor.
Right on cue, a man was entering through the Steel Wolf Guild doors.
Soon after, breathtakingly beautiful women followed him in one by one.
Five women total.
One face Leyzon recognized from before.
Reddish-brown hair and a brooch with a unique pattern.
Her name was Soaz.
Someone who'd competed in the Imperva Dukedom tournament in the past.
She flinched upon seeing Leyzon.
Her face went pale.
Bad memories resurfacing.
After treating her pretty nicely too.
Then the man stepped forward, blocking her.
Damn, he's handsome as hell.
Leyzon had the same thought as last time.
Gentlemanly looks and sea-blue hair.
He was the one Leyzon had summoned by letter.
One of the Resonance World's key figures.
Flame Hair.
He'd come to the Steel Wolf Guild.
"Hey."
Leyzon waved cheerfully in greeting.
Flame Hair scowled the moment he saw him.
"Causing all that chaos in the Resonance World and still so carefree."
"Wasn't me."
"You're the root cause."
Prickly guy.
Acting like this since last time—maybe low on sugar.
"Talking here would be awkward for you too, with all these beauties drawing eyes."
People's gazes had locked on the sudden beauty squad.
All mouths agape, staring.
The women seemed used to attention.
But being gawked at like zoo monkeys was a no-go.
Flame Hair sighed.
"Haa. Lead the way."
There we go.
"Right this way, honored guest."
We'll treat you like royalty.